CASES

The LELDF's original mission, and still our core mission, was raising funds to help defend the actions of wrongly accused law enforcement officers who were acting, in our estimation, within the scope of their responsibilities, experience and training. Since events in Ferguson in August 2014, there's been an increasing need for LELDF support to individual law enforcement officers. We've been up for the challenge.

In just that time until August 2018, the LELDF has maintained or undertaken support for 19 law enforcement officers, 17 of whom were ultimately charged with crimes. Only one of those officers was subsequently convicted of an offense. Eight of the officers we've supported were found NOT GUILTY of alleged crimes and nine others had charges against them DISMISSED, either during pretrial proceedings or after prosecutors reassessed their chances of obtaining a conviction given the lack of proof they originally proceeded on.

We're proud of this record of success but we know more cases will come as politics, not facts, drive some prosecutors to bring charges against police who are simply trying to do their jobs and go home safely to their families.

it all started The morning of April 12, 2015 when Lt. Brian Rice and others who were assigned to a drug trafficking and violence reduction mission noticed a group of men setting up what he believed to be a drug sale spot. The police were recently told to concentrate efforts on this particular location by the . . .

Karen and Rick Bell lived normal, productive lives. Married with two smart and athletically-talented sons, one could say they were living the American Dream. But that dream would begin to turn to nightmare in 2013.

James “Coley” Johnson joined the Wilmington, North Carolina Police Department in the summer of 1989. He was promoted to the rank of corporal, receiving multiple commendations for his dedication and service to the community and served the department as a field training officer for younger officers.

n July 2013, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Agent Jon Martinson was assisting other agents at an ICE facility, preparing detainees for transportation from a secure facility and ultimate deportation from the country. One of the detainees became disruptive in a large holding cell with . . .

This posting is not about just Rick Combs. It’s about YOU, the LELDF supporter. Hundreds of you donated to support Rick. And hundreds more sent notes of support. And now it’s Rick’s turn to thank YOU for that incredible support. Depicted here is Rick with cases full of those notes. This is why we . . .

Jay Dobyns was a star receiver at the University of Arizona who went on to a very productive career with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Exposives. He took on one of the most challenging and dangerous assignments in law enforcement—going undercover to infiltrate the Hells Angels . . .